LONG BEACH, CA USA (25 September 2017) – This week Emirates president, Sir Tim Clark was honored by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) with their coveted CEO Lifetime Achievement Award. APEX, the only non-profit membership trade association dedicated to improving the entire airline passenger experience, presents this prestigious award to industry leaders who have dedicated their lives to the enhancement of the passenger experience through long-term efforts, dedication, and sustained commitment. With more than 45-years of dedicated service to the airline industry, Sir Tim Clark epitomizes the spirit of this award.

In 1972 Sir Tim Clark joined the airline industry in Britain just after graduating with an economics degree from the University of London. Just three years, later he came to the Middle East to advance aviation in the region. In 1985, Tim Clark joined the founding team of Emirates heading airline planning finding opportunities to grow air travel worldwide. Twenty-five years ago in 1992, Emirates became the first airline to install in-seat video in every class of service. A year later, they were the first airline to introduce phone calls in every class of service via Airbus. After the events in 2001 that shook our industry, Emirates provided the boost of adrenaline needed by placing a bold $15 billion order including Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft.

In 2003, Sir Tim Clark became President of Emirates with the bold introduction that same year of a new class of in-flight entertainment system called ICE: an acronym standing for Information, Communication, Entertainment with over 500 channels and a phone at every seat in every class of service. He has taken the most valued brand in the airline industry embark in new areas to further passenger experience including ideas discussed about basic economy and premium economy, and has continued to elevate the airline passenger experience.

“As President of Emirates, Sir Tim Clark has helped to usher in a new golden age of air travel at the dawn of the 21st century, changing the global airline industry by raising the passenger experience bar to an entirely new level,” said Joe Leader, APEX CEO. “Sir Tim Clark is a visionary who not only advanced aviation in the Middle East, but has changed the landscape of travel for the world, which is why APEX is proud to name him as our 2017 CEO Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.”

About The Airline Passenger Experience (APEX)
APEX encompasses a network of businesses and professionals that are committed to providing a world class airline experience for passengers around the globe. As a non-profit, APEX reinvests all of its resources to better serve its members. Every day, APEX members evaluate the passenger experience through an influential community and are improving every aspect of the airline experience: from designing, building and installing seating, entertainment and communications systems on commercial aircraft, to airport lounges and inflight dining. For more than four decades, APEX has worked to strengthen the industry and enable business opportunities through education, innovation, networking and recognition. For more information, please visit apex.aero, sign up for the APEX Daily Experience e-newsletter, or follow APEX on Twitterand Facebook